Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Five Years Car Free in the USA

It's not just that Dave Bonan is visible, he's also vocal, and when he focuses on an idea, he focuses intensely. Five years ago, he focused on riding a bike. Unlike a person who might take up biking to get in shape or explore back roads, Bonan decided to give up driving altogether. It started out of necessity when the transmission on his car blew in 2000. But it wasn't until a year of exclusively riding his bike that Bonan said he really "got it." "It's not just biking," he says. "It's structure, city planning, life slowing down to a crawl, rail trails, greenways, bike lanes..." While he does accept car rides, and supports public transportation, Bonan is apt to bike almost anywhere he needs to go in any kind of weather--to Hartford, New Haven or New York City.